Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-09-19
Third Day OF the Grand Constitutional
Pageant in PHILADELPHIA

Pageant in Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA, September 18th. This
was typical September morning clear,
cool and bright. The streets throughout
| the city were thronged with people of all
nations and colors to celebrate the last day
of the Centennial On the stand in Inde-
pendence Square there were represented
every branch OF life which goes to make
up a nation. Side by side were the Chief
Magistrate, the highest ecclesiastical repre-
sentatives, Justices of the highest law tri-
bunal, the Ministers Extraordinary of for
| eign powers, the nations lawmakers, and
representatives Of the army and navy
The stand in Independence Square had
seating capacity of about 10000 and had
been filled for hours. At the front of the
stand, facing the south, an inclosure was
rallied off for the President and his party,
| the speakers and others. Here was sus.
| pended, so as to be in full view, photo
| graphic copy of the original Constitution.
| AT the east side of the stand stood the
| gaunt old high-backed chair occupied by
George Washington as presiding officer of
the Congress which adopted that honored
and venerated document
Suspended from the back of the chair
was another copy OF the nations charter.
At each side Of the center of the stand
| stood two tiagstaffs, the colors on each be-
| ing raised in honor of the army and navy
respectively as they came up to the
stand. At the eastern side of the structure
sat the Marine Band, which for half an
| hour before the exercises commenced dis
coursed music such as only that famous
organization could render. The chorus of
1000 children, with 200 men as leading
voices, sang patriotic air, which brought
| them rounds of applause.
| Bishop Potter rose, and being followed
by all those who occupied the reserved
| space, with uncovered heads, made the
| opening prayer, reading from manuscript
Just after the Bishop had concluded his
| prayer General Sheridan with his aids. fol.
lowed closely by Cardinal Gibbons, Arch
| bishop Ryan and number of the Catholic
clergy, marched down the aisle, cheered to
| the echo.
When they been seated Hon. John A.
Kasson, as President of the Constitutional
| Centennial Commission, assumed his place
and after hymn had been rendered by
| the chorus, rose TO make the Introductory
address of the day. There was great ap-
| plause as Mr.. kasson began with the
| words, The object of this celebration has
been to demonstrate and quicken the rev.
erence and love of the American people
for their National Constitution" He elo-
quently welcomed President Cleveland and
the vast assemblage of notables, American
and foreign, concluding with the invoca-
| ton May the dawn of the second CEN
! tennial year be celebrated with increased
iervor, and our Union gain in strength as
the centuries roll on. Forever live the
Constitution and the Unionp
Cardinal Gibson, wearing the Cardinal
! colors of his exalted Office, sat at the side
of the speaker, and was one of the most
attentive listeners of the entire assemblage.
| AT the conclusion of Kasson's address
the chorus sang the Appeal to Truth by
Schlller-Mendelsshon, with beautiful effect
Then Mr.. kasson escorted the President
! to the speakers rostruIn, and he commenc-
| ed ten-minutes address, which was loudly
applauded. In conclusion he said: "As
we look down the past century to the
origin of our Constitution; as we contem-
Plate its trials and its triumphs rs we
realize how complete the principles upon
which 1t is based have met every national
peril and every national need, how devout-
ly should we confess, with Franklin, that
| GOD governs in the affairs of men, and how
| solemn should be the reflection that to our
| hands is committed the work of the peo-
pies covenant, aud that ours is the duty to
shield 1t from impious hands,
! THE GRAFTON BY JUSTICE MILLER
Dealt largely with the history of the Con-
| stitution and the dangers to which it has
| been exposed. The most striking passage
was: Aswe receive it sealed with the tests
| of century, it has been found sufficient in
| the past, and in all the future years it will
| be found sufficient if the American peo-
| pie are true to their sacred trust. Another
centennial day will come, and millions vet
| unborn viii inquire regarding our steward
ship and the safety of their conservation.
God grant that they may find it un-
impaired, and as werejoicein the patriotism
and devotion of those who lived hundred
years ago, so may others who follow US re-
Jolce IN our fidelity and ouf jealous love for
constitutional liberty"
The new national hymn, which was con-
| tributed by Marion Harla1id, was then re-
| cited by Professor Murdoch, with a chorus
of 200 mems voices.
at this juncture President Kasson, of the
! Commission, gently took the arm of Cardi-
nal Gibbons, who, with the glittering sun
pouring down upon his Cardinal vestments
and the red hat so lately placed upon his
| head by the venerable Leo XIII, looked
his best and was the recipient of marked
attention. After walking to the front of the
stand and paying respects to the thousands
| OF people who snrged in and around the
stand, he turned around and faced the
President, and within hearing of all who
occupied seats around the circle, offered
prayer to the Almighty
| 4AC W as li5tSlltu W Wibn lHe closest DOS
sible attention. and upon the conclusion of
the prayer the strains of the "Star-
Spangled Banner" broke upon the crowd
in volumes from the voices of the grand
chorus, accompanied by the Marine Band.
An impressive benediction was then pro-
nounced by Rev. Jere Wetherspoon, of
Nashville, Tenn, this being the only alter
alton made in the programme as arranged
some time ago.
IN THE EVENING.
PHILADELPHIA, September 18TH - The
celebration OF the centennial anniversary of
the signing of the Constitution ended ap-
propriately last night with grand banquet,
rendered by the University of Pennsyl-
vania, the American Philosophical Society,
the Franklin Institute, the Academy of
Fine Arts and the Academy of Natural
Science, to President Cleveland and other
guests of the Centennial Commission. For
the first time in its history the vast audi
torium of the Academy of Music has been
turned into avast banqueting-hall. A floor
had been laid over the seats in the paruuet.
and tables for about six hundred persons
were spread. At the principal table sat
President Cleveland, Provost Pepper (who
acted as toast-master) George W. Childs,
Secretaries Bayard and Fairchlld, Frederick
Farley, John A. Kasson, Ex-Governor Hugh
Gordon. Hannibal Hamlin, Mayor Filter
John Jay, Isaac Elwell Carl Schurz,
Charles Francis Adams and Joseph NJ. A.
Wilmer.
Nearly all the distinguished visitors IN